View Full Version : Surprises at NAIAS: New Cobra and Chrysler supercar
Two of the big surprises at NAIAS this year are the Chrysler 850 hp two seater Cien rip-off, and the new Shelby Cobra concept. Both are teased as production possible, the latter perhaps more than the former.
Chrysler:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6729
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7605_image.jpg
Cobra:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6735
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/tmb/7620_image.jpg
Neither really does anything for me, but as fantasy pin-up cars they're sort of cool.
Of more practical interest are the Freestyle, Five Hundred, and Aviator. The Freestyle and Five Hundred, riding on modified Volvo P2 componentry, look like solid if not overly stylish products. One concern is the small size of the V6s (3.0), at a time when the competitors are going to 3.X, c. 220-250 hp units. The Aviator concept, though, uses a 3.5L V6, so perhaps that will be remedied shortly.
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clyde
01-05-2004, 10:18 AM
Cobra:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6735
[/img]
from the article: "But the reborn roadster does boast a 6.4-liter V-10 that, in normally-aspirated trim, puts out 605 horsepower and 501 lb-feet of torque through the car's 19-inch rear wheels. That's enough to launch it from 0-60 in under 10 seconds"
I should fucking hope so!!
Cobra:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6735
[/img]
from the article: "But the reborn roadster does boast a 6.4-liter V-10 that, in normally-aspirated trim, puts out 605 horsepower and 501 lb-feet of torque through the car's 19-inch rear wheels. That's enough to launch it from 0-60 in under 10 seconds"
I should fucking hope so!!
The article doesn't mention that the production version will be based on an F-Super Duty chassis and weigh 12 tons.
Cobra:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6735
[/img]
from the article: "But the reborn roadster does boast a 6.4-liter V-10 that, in normally-aspirated trim, puts out 605 horsepower and 501 lb-feet of torque through the car's 19-inch rear wheels. That's enough to launch it from 0-60 in under 10 seconds"
I should fucking hope so!!
LOL.
You know, the resemblance between Chrysler's product and the Cien is uncanny. To call it a ripoff is an understatement, for sure.
Cobra:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6735
[/img]
from the article: "But the reborn roadster does boast a 6.4-liter V-10 that, in normally-aspirated trim, puts out 605 horsepower and 501 lb-feet of torque through the car's 19-inch rear wheels. That's enough to launch it from 0-60 in under 10 seconds"
I should fucking hope so!!
LOL.
You know, the resemblance between Chrysler's product and the Cien is uncanny. To call it a ripoff is an understatement, for sure.
Cien:
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/news/concept.car/cadillac.cien/cadillac.cien.f34.500.jpg
Except that, IMHO, the Cien looks a lot better.
Cien:
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/news/concept.car/cadillac.cien/cadillac.cien.f34.500.jpg
Except that, IMHO, the Cien looks a lot better.
Yup. The scoop lines on the side of the Chrysler just don't flow in the right direction, and the Cien overall just looks cleaner.
lemming
01-05-2004, 01:09 PM
i like the cien, better, also.
but it's nice to see them pull together a concept car like that so quickly. would Daimler let Chrysler build that car seriously?
Chrysler has a histroy of building their concepts lately. Remember the prowler? Now the Crossfire or Starfire or whatever it is. The Viper was a concept at one point, too. Who thought they would build that when it first made the rounds? So who knows.
lemming
01-05-2004, 05:17 PM
Chrysler has a histroy of building their concepts lately. Remember the prowler? Now the Crossfire or Starfire or whatever it is. The Viper was a concept at one point, too. Who thought they would build that when it first made the rounds? So who knows.
i remember reading about this at carconnecction or autoweek. the hardest part about the DC concept is that it would be badged as a chrysler and hard to swallow for many, many, many, many people. am also not sure if DC would allow it as it would cut into McLaren SLR sales? (don't even know if that's relevant, but it may be).
the other caveat about the viper is that it was pre-daimler beancounters and the crossfire used all SLK and C class mechanicals --didn't follow this DC concept car enough, which chassis does it use? it's midengined so.....
i remember reading about this at carconnecction or autoweek. the hardest part about the DC concept is that it would be badged as a chrysler and hard to swallow for many, many, many, many people. am also not sure if DC would allow it as it would cut into McLaren SLR sales? (don't even know if that's relevant, but it may be).
the other caveat about the viper is that it was pre-daimler beancounters and the crossfire used all SLK and C class mechanicals --didn't follow this DC concept car enough, which chassis does it use? it's midengined so.....
DC is still pretty good at turning their concepts into production cars. I can't believe our fortune, for example, that the Magnum wagon is actually going into production largely unchanged. At the same time, you're right -- this car may be too radical to produce with DC in its currenty state. Anything's possible, but I'd put my money on Cadillac to make such a car first.
lemming
01-05-2004, 05:23 PM
what the hell is wrong with the car world when the moxie comes from oldies but goodies like lutz, shelby and jack roush?
where are the younger guys and what the hell are they doing?!?!?!?!
even that panoz guy is up there in age.
where are the younger guys and what the hell are they doing?!?!?!?!
They are probably all afraid of getting fired or "downsized" :action:
what the hell is wrong with the car world when the moxie comes from oldies but goodies like lutz, shelby and jack roush?
where are the younger guys and what the hell are they doing?!?!?!?!
even that panoz guy is up there in age.
Well experience must count for something. :lol:
Seriously, I think the barrier to entry is a lot higher than it used to be. The engineering that goes into cars is a lot more than it used to be. The expense of complying with the government bs has to be pretty high (not to mention that it sucks the life out of you). I think the young guys are developing after market parts instead of car designs - which you see a lot of at shows like NAIAS.
lemming
01-06-2004, 05:51 PM
what the hell is wrong with the car world when the moxie comes from oldies but goodies like lutz, shelby and jack roush?
where are the younger guys and what the hell are they doing?!?!?!?!
even that panoz guy is up there in age.
Well experience must count for something. :lol:
Seriously, I think the barrier to entry is a lot higher than it used to be. The engineering that goes into cars is a lot more than it used to be. The expense of complying with the government bs has to be pretty high (not to mention that it sucks the life out of you). I think the young guys are developing after market parts instead of car designs - which you see a lot of at shows like NAIAS.
it doesn't say much for GM corporate culture that they need a 71 year old like bob lutz to give their cars some serious kicks in the ass.
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